COVER STORY : AT THE CENTER OF THE DOLE FIRESTORM

Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) got plenty of attention when he scolded Hollywood about sex and violence in movies, TV and pop music. But, as The Times reports today (see Page A1), Dole’s comments aren’t changing the face of show business. Yet. The creative and business powerbrokers will tell you they’ve always been thoughful about what they produce. Here, then, are some snapshots of life on the front lines:

BILL BICKLEY

TV Producer

Bill Bickley believes he has been strongly affected by the political pressure falling on the TV industry. The irony is that Bickley, 47, executive-produces family sitcoms, including much of ABC’s Friday night lineup.

Politicians’ attacks, he believes, are hitting the wrong mark.

“I feel that family shows--inspiring shows about families and kids--would benefit by being able to be a bit more truthful,” says Bickley, who with his partner, Michael Warren, executive-produces “Family Matters,” “Step by Step” and “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper.”

“Instead, we tend to be the ones most heavily censored by the networks, because of the anticipation of a backlash among family viewers.”

Bickley applauds “NYPD Blue” for its realistic portrayal of crime and “Mad About You” for its frank discussions of sex but says few producers go for that level of quality.

“It’s gotten to the point where the movie ‘Network’ is looking a little understated, with the O.J. trial and all the sensational daytime shows,” Bickley says.

“But even in entertainment programming, the only issue anymore is the revenue. You can’t operate at a loss, but you also have to make money responsibly.”

In the end, he takes comfort in his efforts to make stories about real people who simply try to do what’s right.

“Occasionally I’ll be tired of doing family shows and getting ostracized by the fashionable part of the business,” he says. “Then I’ll run into people who say, ‘Our family watches your show together and we talk about the issues you raise.’ That means they’re not only entertained--they get something out of it.”